List of Indian Super League marquees explained

Since its inception, the Indian Super League, one of the top footballing tournaments in India, has adopted the marquee player rule in which all eight teams signed one player to be their marquee player for the season. The rule allows ISL teams to pursue players who, in their prime, were considered superstars in the game. Their presence would help build attendances and fanfare throughout the league while also benefiting the players on the field performance wise.

Former Liverpool and Spanish international player, Luis García was the first marquee player in the Indian Super League when he signed for Atlético de Kolkata.[1]

History

Prior to the start of the Indian Super League, it was announced that all teams would include at least one marquee player in their side. Luis García was the first marquee signed when he was bought in by Atlético de Kolkata in July 2014.[1] The first season began with the inaugural class of marquee players being García at Atlético de Kolkata, former Brazilian international Elano at Chennaiyin, former Juventus and World Cup winning Italian forward Alessandro Del Piero at Delhi Dynamos, former Arsenal and World Cup winning France midfielder Robert Pires at Goa, former England international goalkeeper David James at Kerala Blasters, former Swedish international Freddie Ljungberg at Mumbai City, another former Spanish international and World Cup winner Joan Capdevila at NorthEast United, and former French international and World Cup winner, David Trezeguet, at Pune City.[2] For Kerala Blasters, David James not only served as the marquee player but also as the team's head coach.[2]

After the first season, the ISL introduced a salary cap of 20 crore which also included marquee players in the cap.[3] Due to the new salary cap and various other reasons, only Elano was retained as a marquee player for the 2015 season.[3] Atlético de Kolkata decided to replace García with former Portuguese international Hélder Postiga.[4] Both Delhi Dynamos and Goa continued the run of bringing in Brazilian marquee players by signing former internationals Roberto Carlos and Lúcio respectively.[5] [6] NorthEast United signed another former Portugal international in Simão Sabrosa while the Kerala Blasters bought in Carlos Marchena.[7] [8] Mumbai City and Pune City signed Nicolas Anelka and former Chelsea forward Adrian Mutu respectively.[9] [10] Both Carlos and Anelka would also serve as player-coaches throughout the season.

After the 2015 season it was announced that signing marquee players who also served as head coaches would be banned from happening in the Indian Super League.[11]

2016 season marquee players

Year signedTeamMarquee
2015 Hélder Postiga[12]
2016 John Arne Riise[13]
2016 Florent Malouda[14]
2015 Lúcio[15]
2016 Aaron Hughes[16]
2016 Diego Forlán[17]
2016 Didier Zokora[18]
2016 Mohamed Sissoko[19]

Past marquee players

Year signed Player Club
align=center 2014 Luis García[20] Atlético de Kolkata
align=center 2014–2015 Elano[21] [22] Chennaiyin
align=center 2014 Alessandro Del Piero[23] Delhi Dynamos
align=center 2014 Robert Pires[24] Goa
align=center 2014 David James[25] Kerala Blasters
align=center 2014 Freddie Ljungberg[26] Mumbai City
align=center 2014 Joan Capdevila[27] NorthEast United
align=center 2014 David Trezeguet[28] Pune City
align=center 2015 Roberto Carlos[29] Delhi Dynamos
align=center 2015 Carlos Marchena[30] Kerala Blasters
align=center 2015 Nicolas Anelka[31] Mumbai City
align=center 2015 Simão Sabrosa[32] NorthEast United
align=center 2015 Adrian Mutu[33] Pune City
align=center 2016 Eiður Guðjohnsen[34] Pune City

Marquee players by country

No. of players Country Players
4 David Trezeguet, Florent Malouda, Nicolas Anelka, Robert Pires
3 Elano, Lúcio, Roberto Carlos
Alessandro Del Piero, Marco Materazzi, Alessandro Nesta
Carlos Marchena, Joan Capdevila, Luis García
2 Hélder Postiga, Simão Sabrosa
1 David James
Robbie Keane
Didier Zokora
Mohamed Sissoko
Aaron Hughes
John Arne Riise
Adrian Mutu
Freddie Ljungberg
Diego Forlán
Asamoah Gyan
Dimitar Berbatov

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Atletico De Kolkata signs Luis Garcia for Indian Super League. Economic Times. 3 August 2014. 12 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140812235149/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-07-08/news/51191335_1_atletico-de-kolkata-indian-super-league-premier-league. dead.
  2. News: Crocker. Sam. Indian Super League: club-by-club guide to the inaugural season. 5 May 2015. The Guardian. 7 October 2014. 24 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150624013723/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/oct/08/indian-super-league-club-by-club-guide. live.
  3. News: Cunha. Peter. Don't expect top marquee names, though 'player-managers' may continue. 25 July 2016. Scroll. 28 July 2015. 15 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160815191005/http://scroll.in/article/744273/indian-super-league-dont-expect-top-marquee-names-though-player-managers-may-continue. live.
  4. News: Postiga signs with Atletico de Kolkata. 29 July 2015. Atletico de Kolkata (Twitter). 29 July 2015. 6 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306012447/https://twitter.com/atletidekolkata/status/626288471036956672. live.
  5. News: Chandra. Shikharr. Delhi Dynamos announce the signing of Roberto Carlos as head coach. 5 July 2015. Goal.com. 5 July 2015. 7 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150707171521/http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2015/07/05/13295252/official-delhi-dynamos-announce-the-signing-of-roberto-carlos-as-. live.
  6. News: Lucio joins FC Goa as marquee. 8 June 2015. Goal.com. 7 June 2015. 9 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150609020031/http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2015/06/07/12499742/fc-goa-sign-lucio-as-marquee-player. live.
  7. News: Portugal's Euro 2004 finalist Simao Sabrosa signs for NorthEast United. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154920/http://www.firstpost.com/sports/isl-portugals-euro-2004-finalist-simao-sabrosa-signs-northeast-united-2312244.html. dead. 24 September 2015. 25 June 2015. FirstPost. 25 June 2015.
  8. News: Jitendran. Nikhil. Taylor reveals Kerala Blasters' ISL preparations going well. 22 September 2015. Goal.com. 19 September 2015. 20 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150920070901/http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/7083/isl/2015/09/19/15515362/indian-super-league-taylor-reveals-kerala-blasters-isl. live.
  9. News: Mumbai City FC re-sign Nicolas Anelka. 9 June 2015. Times of India. 9 June 2015. 18 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161118005725/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sports/Football/Indian-Super-League/Top-Stories/Mumbai-City-FC-re-sign-Nicolas-Anelka/articleshow/47600948.cms. live.
  10. News: Adrian Mutu joins Pune City as Indian Super League club's marquee signing. 2 August 2015. ESPN FC. 31 July 2015. 3 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150803214159/http://www.espnfc.com/story/2543577/adrian-mutu-signs-for-indan-super-league-club-fc-pune-city. live.
  11. News: Mergulhao. Marcus. ISL plans to get competitive marquees. 25 July 2016. Times of India. 16 January 2016. 22 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160622173801/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/indian-super-league/top-stories/ISL-plans-to-get-competitive-marquees/articleshow/50601972.cms. live.
  12. Web site: Helder Postiga retained. Atletico de Kolkata (Twitter). 18 September 2016. 6 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210706120129/https://twitter.com/atkmohunbaganfc/status/764018755378610177. live.
  13. News: Chennaiyin FC sign John Arne Riise. 25 August 2016. Chennaiyin Football Club. 18 August 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160818125518/http://chennaiyinfc.com/chennaiyin-fc-sign-john-arne-riise-marquee-player/. 18 August 2016. mdy-all.
  14. News: Delhi Dynamos FC's Florent Malouda returns as the Marquee player. 3 September 2016. Indian Super League. 29 August 2016. 2 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160902223835/http://www.indiansuperleague.com/news/3919-delhi-dynamos-f-c-s-florent-malouda-returns-as-the-marquee-player. live.
  15. Web site: Lucio returns to FC Goa. FC Goa (Twitter). 18 September 2016. 6 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210706120129/https://twitter.com/FCGoaOfficial/status/771653472437448704. live.
  16. Web site: Aaron Hughes joins Kerala Blasters as marquee player. Andy. Charles. Sky Sports. 28 July 2016. 18 September 2016. 1 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160801092306/http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10515475/aaron-hughes-joins-kerala-blasters-as-marquee-player. live.
  17. Web site: Diego Forlan signs for Mumbai City. Mumbai City FC (Twitter). 18 September 2016. 6 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210706120130/https://abs.twimg.com/responsive-web/client-web/ondemand.Dropdown.cdde1bb5.js. live.
  18. Web site: Didier Zokora marquee NorthEast United. NorthEast United FC (Twitter). 18 September 2016. 6 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210706120129/https://twitter.com/NEUtdFC/status/769884364914225152. live.
  19. Web site: Momo Sissoko signs as marquee. FC Pune City (Twitter). 2 October 2016. 6 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210706120131/https://twitter.com/FCPuneCity/status/782209157126623232. live.
  20. Web site: Atletico name Luis Garcia as marquee player, Habas as coach. 2020-02-19. www.indiansuperleague.com. en. 19 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200219015958/https://www.indiansuperleague.com/clubs/499-atk-profile/news/atletico-name-luis-garcia-as-marquee-player-habas-as-coach. live.
  21. Web site: Meet the 8 marquee players of Indian Super League (ISL). 2020-02-19. www.mykhel.com. en. 19 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200219020316/https://www.mykhel.com/football/meet-the-8-marquee-players-indian-super-league-isl-football-020621.html. live.
  22. Web site: Chennaiyin FC retain Elano as marquee player. 2020-02-19. www.newsnation.in. en. 19 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200219020322/https://www.newsnation.in/sports/football/chennaiyin-fc-retain-elano-as-marquee-player-82077.html. live.
  23. Web site: ISL: Delhi Dynamos on the brink of signing former Italy star Alessandro del Piero. 2020-02-19. www.firstpost.com. en. 28 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230528111211/https://www.firstpost.com/sports/isl-delhi-dynamos-brink-signing-former-italy-star-alessandro-del-piero-1680883.html. live.
  24. Web site: Pires joins FC Goa as marquee player. 2020-02-19. www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. en. 25 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220925180156/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/indian-super-league/top-stories/pires-joins-fc-goa-as-marquee-player/articleshow/42514626.cms. live.
  25. Web site: FOOTBALL Image ID: 158715259. 2020-02-19. www.thehinduimages.com. en.
  26. Web site: ISL: Mumbai City FC confirm signing Freddie Ljungberg as marquee player. 2020-02-19. www.sportskeeda.com. en. 19 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200219021404/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/isl-mumbai-city-fc-confirm-signing-freddie-ljungberg-marquee-player. live.
  27. Web site: NORTHEAST UNITED FC SIGN JOAN CAPDEVILA AS THEIR MARQUEE PLAYER. 2020-02-19. www.shillonglajong.com. en. 19 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200219023235/https://www.shillonglajong.com/northeast-united-fc-sign-joan-capdevila-as-their-marquee-player/. dead.
  28. Web site: FC Pune City name David Trezeguet as marquee player. 2020-02-19. www.zeenews.india.com. en. 19 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200219021735/https://zeenews.india.com/sports/football/fc-pune-city-name-david-trezeguet-as-marquee-player_792816.html. live.
  29. Web site: Hero Indian Super League: Roberto Carlos to be marquee-player-cum-manager for Delhi Dynamos. 2020-02-19. The Economic Times. en. 9 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200909174348/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/hero-indian-super-league-roberto-carlos-to-be-marquee-player-cum-manager-for-delhi-dynamos/articleshow/48019198.cms. live.
  30. Web site: Kerala Blasters top off their transfer business with marquee signing Carlos Marchena. 2020-02-19. www.thefangarage.com. en. 8 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230308170810/https://thefangarage.com/articles/868-kerala-blasters-top-off-their-transfer-business-with-marquee-signing-carlos-marchena. live.
  31. Web site: Mumbai City FC announces Nicolas Anelka as marquee player-cum-manager for ISL. 2020-02-19. www.economictimes.indiatimes.com. en. 5 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230405064111/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/mumbai-city-fc-announces-nicolas-anelka-as-marquee-player-cum-manager-for-isl/articleshow/47925047.cms. live.
  32. Web site: Simao Sabrosa: NorthEast United announce Marquee Signing. 2020-02-19. www.essentiallysports.com. en. 19 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200219022626/https://www.essentiallysports.com/simao-sabrosa-northeast-united-announce-marquee-signing/. live.
  33. Web site: FC Pune City sign former Chelsea winger Adrian Mutu as marquee footballer. 2020-02-19. www.indiatoday.in. en. 19 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200219022629/https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/football/story/fc-pune-city-sign-former-chelsea-winger-adrian-mutu-as-marquee-footballer-285572-2015-07-30. live.
  34. Web site: ISL 2016: FC Pune City's marquee player Eidur Gudjohnsen to miss entire season due to injury. 2020-02-19. www.essentiallysports.com. en. 19 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200219022626/https://scroll.in/field/817474/isl-2016-fc-pune-citys-marquee-player-eidur-gudjohnsen-to-miss-entire-season-due-to-injury. live.

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